Hibiscus plant named &#39;TAHI56&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘TAHI56’ that is characterized by its right and well-branched plant habit, its flowers that are very pale purple-white in color with a red eye, its large flowers that grow up to 25 cm in diameter, and its foliage that is green and suffused with greyed purple to brown.

Botanical classification: Hibiscus×moscheutos.

Cultivar designation: ‘TAHI56’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filedfor 2 plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitledHibiscus Plant Named ‘TAHI12’ (U. S. Plant patent application pending)*and Hibiscus Plant Named ‘TAHI16’ (U. S. Plant patent applicationpending)*. *(Applicant gives the examiner the authority to replace U. S.Plant patent application pending with an Application No. or Patent No.if applicable and delete this statement.)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant botanically known as Hibiscus×moscheutos ‘TAHI56’ and will bereferred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘TAHI56’. ‘TAHI56’ is a newcultivar of hardy hibiscus grown for use as a container and landscapeplant.

The new cultivar was developed through an on-going breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Montauban, France. The new cultivar arosefrom a cross made in September of 2012 between Hibiscus ‘Summer Storm’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,443) as the female parent andHibiscus×moscheutos ‘Griotte’ (not patented) as the male parent.‘TAHI56’ was selected as a single unique plant in September of 2012 fromthe resulting seedlings of the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood stem cuttings in Montauban, France in 2012 by the Inventor.Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings and tissue culture hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘TAHI56’. These attributes in combination distinguish‘TAHI56’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus.

-   -   1. ‘TAHI56’ exhibits an upright and well-branched plant habit.    -   2. ‘TAHI56’ exhibits flowers that are very pale purple-white in        color with a red eye.    -   3. ‘TAHI56’ exhibits large flowers that grow up to 25 cm in        diameter.    -   4. ‘TAHI56’ exhibits foliage that is green and suffused with        greyed purple to brown.

The female parent plant, ‘Summer Storm’, is similar to ‘TAHI56’ inhaving foliage that is dark in color. ‘Summer Storm’ differs from‘TAHI56’ in having flowers that are pink in color. The male parentplant, ‘Griotte’, is similar to ‘TAHI56’ in having foliage that is darkin color. ‘Griotte’ differs from ‘TAHI56’ in having flowers that arecherry red in color and foliage that is less dark in color. ‘TAHI16’ canbe compared to cultivars that derived from the same breeding program;‘TAHI12’ and ‘TAHI16’. ‘TAHI12’ differs from ‘TAHI56’ in having pinkflowers with more visible veins. ‘TAHI16’ differs from ‘TAHI156’ inhaving flowers that are deep red-pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hibiscus. The photographs weretaken of a twelve month-old plant of ‘TAHI56’ as grown in a 23-cmcontainer in an un-heated greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘TAHI56’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘TAHI56’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘TAHI56’.The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the new Hibiscus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 12 month-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in 23-cm container in Boskoop, TheNetherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with the 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—Late summer to beginning of Autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, well-branched.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 81.7 cm in height and 37.7            cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate in about 2 weeks and fully            develop in about 3 months in a 4-liter container.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—178A.        -   Stem size.—An average of 79.4 cm in length and 1.2 mm in            diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Stem aspect.—Upright, in an average angle of 80° to soil            level (0°=vertical).        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Branching.—Moderately free branching, an average of 4            lateral branches.        -   Internode.—Average of 1.8 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Hastate to narrow ovate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Hastate to truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface; 178A in color, lower            surface; 181A in color.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregular crenate-serrate, undulate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf orientation.—Held upright and slightly pendulant.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces glabrous, upper surface;            moderately glossy, lower surface; matte.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves upper surface; 143B and tinged with            200B to 200C, young leaves lower surface; between 143C and            146B and tinged with 183A at margins, mature leaves upper            surface; color between N186C and 200A, closest to 200A,            slightly to moderately tinged 148A, mature leaves lower            surface; between 146B and 146C, moderately to strongly            tinged 183A.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 19.5 cm in length, and 11.8 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—About 45 leaves per lateral branch.        -   Petioles.—Average of 8.8 cm in length, 4 mm in width, upper            surface; between 183A and 187B, lower surface; 185A in            color, glabrous surface.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are solitary in leaf axils.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—Average of 4 days, self cleaning.        -   Flower size.—An average of 13.6 cm in depth and 6.4 cm in            diameter, up to 25 cm in spread when grown in a larger            container or in the landscape.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower shape.—Rotate, typical Hibiscus shape.        -   Flower number.—Average of 2 per lateral stem.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to slightly upright.        -   Flower bud.—Ovate in shape, an average of 4 cm in length and            2.6 cm in width, color; between 144B, tinged 183A to 183B,            glabrous surface.        -   Flower attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petal number.—5.        -   Petal shape.—Reniform to orbicular.        -   Petal color.—Upper surface when opening; between 69D and            NN155D, flushed and veined 61B, base N45A, lower surface            when opening; between 69D and NN155D, base 69B, veined            NN155A, upper surface when fully open; between 69D and            NN155D, flushed and veined 61B, base N45A, lower surface            when fully open; between 69D and NN155D, base 69B, veined            NN155A, fading to 75D, flushed with 68B, veined 61B to 61C,            base 53A.        -   Petal surface.—Both surfaces glabrous, upper side glossy,            lower side matte.        -   Petal margins.—Entire, overlapping.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Petal size.—Average of 7.6 cm in length and 8.3 cm in width.        -   Sepal number.—5.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal size.—Average of 4.3 cm in length and 2.3 cm in width            (measured at the base of the free part).        -   Sepal aspect.—Rotate, lower 18.5% fused.        -   Sepal surface.—Both surfaces glabrous and matte.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Broadly cuneate and fused.        -   Sepal color.—Young upper surface; 145B, young lower surface;            144B, tinged 183A to 183B, mature upper surface; 145B,            mature lower surface; 144B, tinged 183B to 183C.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 3 cm in length and 6.7 cm            in diameter.        -   Pedicels.—None.        -   Peduncles.—Average of 6.5 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter,            glabrous surface, held at an average angle of 40°            (0°=straight on top of lateral branch), moderately strong,            color; upper side 180A, lower side 146D with distal end            143C.        -   Epicalyx.—At the base of each flower is a ring of bracts,            average of 13, linear in shape, curled upright, average of            2.1 cm in length and 2 mm in width, upper surface color            144C, lower surface color 144A to 144B, tip 176A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, average of 4 cm in length, stigmas;            club-shaped, an average of 5 and 158A in color, style; 3.8            cm in length and N155D in color, ovary; 145C in color and            completely covered by the base of the style.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; average of 90, clustered and implanted            in style, anthers; dorsifixed and orbicular in shape, 1 mm            in length and 196B in color; filaments; 2 mm in length and            155A in color, pollen; moderate in quantity and 161A to 161B            in color.        -   Fruit/seeds.—None observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘TAHI56’ asherein illustrated and described.